the weekly pencil.

Now that school is out for the month, I find that I am using pencils a bit less and have more time to focus on some other aspects of the hardcore pencil-using community. I often talk about how pencils I use are sharpened (mostly via handheld sharpeners) and how the nature of my sharpening has me going through many new blades since I use a fresh pencil every week. This is where the Classroom Friendly Sharpener comes in. I have found that pre-sharpening my pencils before heading off to class really helps me to cut down on the initial wear and tear a handheld blade experiences when dealing with a new pencil. At first glance, the Classroom Friendly looks like an ordinary pencil sharpener you would find mounted in the classroom. That is where the similarities to the old school sharpeners end.

The sharpeners come in six different colors and are priced at $24.99, but bulk discounts are offered. The Classroom Friendly offers an automatic stop, so you will not eat your pencils needlessly. The shavings drop down into the removable receptacle below and it is easy to clean and maintain. The sharpener comes with a mount for a table or desk, but you can also use the sharpener without the mount as you do not need to hold onto the pencil as it is being sharpened. There are three sets of "teeth" that grip the pencil when inserted into the sharpener and while this does a good job of holding the pencil tight, it leaves some pretty significant gouges in the pencil being sharpened. This is not an issue at all for classroom use, but for pencil collectors and enthusiasts, it is something you should know. Some rubber grips might be a better idea if Classroom Friendly decides on a re-design.

As far as sharpening is concerned, the Classroom Friendly is amazing. Not only does it sharpen well, but it is super quiet which is a bonus for teachers. I jokingly mounted the sharpener to my nightstand for a bit and sharpened a pencil while my wife was sleeping next to me and she did not move at all. This thing is REALLY quiet. I also enjoy the nice, long point it provides and it is comparable to everyone's favorite Long Point sharpener by KUM. The Classroom Friendly sharpens evenly and accurately every time and I have not had an instance yet where I have received sub-par results (I have sharpened about 30 or so pencils with this thing so far).

With its sturdy metal construction, quiet operation, and intuitive nature, the Classroom Friendly Sharpener is a no-brainer for teachers everywhere. I also can recommend it to pencil enthusiasts as the Classroom Friendly does its job well and there is a way around the gouges it produces in your pencils. Just wrap a post-it around the barrel of your pencil before you sharpen and you will not have any problems. If you do not already own a Classroom Friendly, you should pick one up. It is well worth the cost. Head here if you are interested!

*I was provided a Classroom Friendly Sharpener free of charge for a review, but my review was not influenced by Classroom Friendly or any other entity than myself.*